2 Years After Charges, DPP Removes Provisional Accusations in 8 Cases

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has struck out the provisional charges against several high-profile suspects, including Akil Bissessur, Bruneau Laurette, and Vimen Sabapati, in a series of major drug trafficking cases.

The DPP’s office announced the decision this Friday, September 26, stating the action was being taken in multiple drug trafficking cases where the common element was that the suspects had all alleged “planting” of evidence by the police’s Special Striking Team (SST).

The cases involve eight major files handled by the SST, with the arrests being supervised by high-ranking officers.

Among those whose provisional charges are being removed are Akil and Avinash Bissessur, Doomila Devi Moheeputh, Jean Bruneau and Jean Luca Ryan Laurette, and Vimen Sabapati.

Accusations and Ongoing Investigations

All suspects have denied the accusations brought against them and have filed complaints with the Independent Police Complaint Commission (IPCC), where investigations are currently underway.

Despite the provisional charges having been lodged between 2022 and 2023, the DPP stated that because the courts had imposed strict bail conditions, it would be “unjust” to maintain the charges while supplementary investigations proceed.

Not an Abandonment of Prosecution

The DPP stressed that the removal of the provisional charges is “in no way an abandonment of the prosecution.”

A final decision will be made “once all matters have been fully and fairly examined,” according to the statement from the DPP’s office.

The office will therefore ask the relevant courts to advance these files to formally remove the provisional charges, while the processing of the cases continues within a reasonable timeframe.

Source: l’Express